Google Pixel 7 vs. Pixel 6: Should you upgrade?

• Source: Google

  Google Pixel 7

  A lot of brains with some brawn

  The Pixel 7 doesn't break the Pixel mold that Google set last year. It has a stronger and more capable Tensor G2 processor, improved AI features, stronger connectivity, and an improved fingerprint scanner. Keeping it the same price as last year solidifies the Pixel 7 as the value smartphone champion.

  Pros

  • More AI capabilities
  • Improved network connectivity
  • Improved fingerprint sensor

  Cons

  • Tensor G2 is not as powerful as flagship processors
  • Not a huge upgrade over the Pixel 6
  • Camera bar is not for everyone

• 

  Source: Google

  Google Pixel 6

  Just as good if it's not giving you issues

  The Google Pixel 6 was a break from Google's traditional design and was an attempt to differentiate itself from other phones on the market. Google uses a custom Tensor processor that excels at AI processing but isn't as good for intensive tasks like gaming. Google also put in a 90Hz display, great cameras, and decent battery life, making the Pixel 6 an incredible value.

  Pros

  • Excellent camera system
  • Redesigned camera bar
  • Amazing value

  Cons

  • Can suffer from connectivity issues
  • Fingerprint sensor is unreliable
  • Tensor G1 isn't great for gaming

The Google Pixel 6 launched in 2021 and instantly became one of the best Android phones you could get. The Pixel 6 brought with it a custom processor, a new camera sensor, and a brand-new design. It was by no means a perfect smartphone, but it set the tone for devices in the $600 price range. The Pixel 7 launched a year later and improved on some of the Pixel 6's issues. The phones look, feel, and act very similarly, but there are key differences. To find out how they stack up against each other, read our deep dive into what the Pixel 7 actually brings to the table compared to its predecessor.

Price, specs, and availability

When the Pixel 6 first launched, it started at $600 but can currently be found for much less. Despite inflation, Google stuck with this price tag for the Pixel 7, which it also offers starting at $600. Given the improvements Google has added to the new phone, the Pixel 7 presents an even better value than its predecessor.

The Pixel 7 is also available in more countries internationally, launching in a total of 17 markets. You're looking at the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and select European countries, with Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands being part of the party for the first time. The Pixel 7 can also be bought in India; Google last sold a flagship phone there when it released the Pixel 4.

• 	Google Pixel 7 Pro	Google Pixel 6
  SoC	Google Tensor G2	Google Tensor
  Display	6.7 inches, 1440×3120 (QHD+), LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, 1500 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass Victus	6.4″ 1080p OLED, 90Hz
  RAM	12GB	8 GB
  Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB	128 GB, 256 GB
  Battery	5000mAh, up to 23W fast charging, up to 23W wireless charging (Pixel Stand)	4,614 mAh
  Operating System	Android 13	Android 13
  Front camera	10.8MP f/2.2 (92.8° FoV, fixed focus)	8 MP f/2.0, 84° FOV
  Rear cameras	50MP f/1.85 primary (82° FoV w/OIS); 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide with autofocus (125° FoV); 48MP f/3.5 5x telephoto w/OIS; LDAF, Spectral and flicker sensor; 5x optical and up to 30x Super Res Zoom	50 MP f/1.85, 82° FOV (primary); 12 MP f/2.2, 114° FOV (ultrawide)
  Connectivity	5G (mmWave supported in the US), Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Ultra-Wideband, Dual-band GNSS, Dual SIM (nanoSIM + eSIM)	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, LTE, 5G
  Dimensions	3.01 x 6.4 x 0.35 inches (76.6mm x 162.9mm x 8.9mm)	158.6mm x 74.8mm x 8.9mm, 207g
  IP Rating	IP68	IP68
  Price	$899 USD	Starting at $599

Design

Google stays true to its new visor-design language with the Pixel 7. Like the Pixel 6 before it, the Pixel 7 still has its camera array set in a bar at the top of the back that stretches horizontally from one side to the other. This makes both phones easy to use when they're flat on a table, even without a case. That can't be said for many other modern smartphones, with designs like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra's simply unable to provide this experience.

The Pixel 7 is more refined than the Pixel 6, though. The visor is now made of aluminum, the same material as the frame. It makes for a smooth transition from the sides to the visor, which makes it feel much less tacked on. Looking at the front, you'll also notice that the bezels around the screen have shrunken a little, safe for the bottom bezel, which is still roughly the same size as on the Pixel 6. It's the one part of the new phone that isn't so pretty.

It might not be so obvious when you look at both phones side-by-side, but the Pixel 7 is a tad smaller in all dimensions than its predecessor. This is most noticeable when you handle both devices. The Pixel 7 fits the hands ever-so-slightly better, and it's easier to maintain a grip when you need to wield it one-handed. Make no mistake, though. The Pixel 6 and 7 are fingerprint magnets, with Google still choosing to go with a glossy glass finish on the back.

When it comes to colors, you have new options to choose from. While the Pixel 6 came in Sorta Seafoam, Kinda Coral, and Stormy Black, the Pixel 7 is available in Lemongrass, Snow, and Obsidian. This means you won't have the option to get a fully pink/red phone from Google anymore; instead, you can now get a white version.

Display

The Pixel 7 and the Pixel 6 share almost the exact same displays. Both phones have an AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2400 resolution. They also have a refresh rate of 90Hz, are capable of displaying HDR10+ content, and are protected by Gorilla Glass Victus. The Pixel 7 uses a 6.3-inch display, with a pixel density of 416 ppi, and is capable of hitting a peak brightness of 1400 nits. The Pixel 6 has a 6.4-inch display, with a pixel density of 411 ppi, and is capable of hitting a peak brightness of 800 nits. You may not notice the size difference between these displays, but you will notice that the Pixel 7's display is easier to see outdoors.

Software

There isn't much to talk about in the software department. Both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 6 run Android 13, though naturally, the Pixel 7 is guaranteed to get updates for a year longer than the Pixel 6 at this point. That means you're looking at three years of Android version upgrades and five years of security patches, while the Pixel 6 only has two years of Android upgrades left and four years of security patches. That makes sense, as the device is already one year old.

One of the highlighting additions is probably face unlock. Google says that while the company only relies on the camera to make it work, the Pixel 7 has measures that prevent someone from simply holding an image of you in front of the screen to get in. However, the company doesn't seem to trust the system enough for more than the lock screen. You can still only use your fingerprint to unlock apps like your password manager or online banking.

Regarding the fingerprint scanner, Google has upgraded both the hardware and the software. While the fingerprint scanner was one of the weakest points of the Pixel 6, the Pixel 7's scanner feels just fine. It's faster and more accurate, with fewer false negatives that force you to input your PIN code.

Android 13 behaves mostly the same on both devices, but Google threw in a few new software features for the Pixel 7. The new phone will display a weather report on your lock screen and home screen in the morning automatically; there is a new “Silence” voice action you can use without saying “OK, Google,” there are upgrades to the Recorder app, and Pixel Call Assist can now display menu structures for a selection of toll-free numbers without you having to wait for the band to list all of them.

Later this year, the Pixel 7 will also get access to Google's VPN service for free, and you will get to enjoy Clear Calling, a new feature that's supposed to make it easier for you to hear phone calls in loud environments.

Performance and connectivity

Besides the new design and size difference, Google hasn't made many changes to the Pixel series. You're looking at a new, slightly upgraded version of the Tensor chip in the form of the Google Tensor G2, but other than that, the same 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The Tensor G2 won't blow the Tensor out of the water in raw performance but has been further optimized for the AI tasks that are baked into the Pixel's software.

The new Tensor G2 chip also comes with a new modem, which promises better connectivity, giving it a leg up among the best 5G phones. The modem the Pixel 6 shipped with had a lot of connectivity issues for some, and based on early reports, the problems seem to be far less severe with the Pixel 7 than with the 6. This is just based on early data, though, so you might want to hold off for just a bit until more reports come in talking about connectivity.

Battery life and charging

The battery got slightly smaller and now offers only 4,355mAh rather than 4614mAh. The overall battery life should last about the same amount of time due to a more refined chipset and a slightly smaller display. Charging capabilities remain the same for both devices. Wired charging speeds are slightly different between the two. The Pixel 7 can be charged at 30W using a wired charger, while the Pixel 6 tops out at 21W. Both are capable of wireless charging and reverse wireless charging.

Camera

Across the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 6, the camera hardware is the same on the back. You're looking at a 50MP wide standard camera accompanied by a 12MP ultrawide. This is a regular practice for Google. The company prefers to stick with a hardware setup for multiple generations, instead of focusing on improving the surrounding software and algorithms to get even more out of it. This is just what Google does for the Pixel 7.

The Pixel 7 offers much faster night photography at the same quality. In our testing, the Pixel 6 almost always took at least twice as long to capture the same shot at night. The Pixel 7 goes beyond just faster capture times, though. It introduces a new max night mode that lets you capture even more light for an even better picture in the dark. And if you prefer, you can also easily turn off night mode altogether. That's great when shooting fast-moving subjects or objects, where timing is of the essence.

On the Pixel 7, Google has additionally enhanced its True Tone algorithms. These are meant to accurately represent every skin tone true to nature, without any of the bias towards white skin only that has plagued photography for centuries. Google pioneered this technology in previous versions, but the Pixel 7 steps things up again.

1st and 2nd: Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 7 at 2x zoom — 3rd and 4th: Pixel 6 vs. Pixel 7 at 2x zoom, cropped in to show the difference in details

Google has also improved Super Res Zoom, its computationally supported digital zoom. When you zoom in by 2x on the Pixel 7, the phone will now use all pixels in the exact area of the sensor to give you a more accurate and detailed image. The Pixel 6 simply cropped in with the regular pixel binning in place for the 50MP camera, meaning it doesn't get as many details. Despite both phones sharing the same hardware, the difference is stunning, particularly in portrait shots.

Pixel 7 shots first, Pixel 6 shots second

On the software side, you can also look forward to Photo Unblur. This feature allows Pixel 7 owners to enhance any of the photos in their library using a new algorithm that removes motion blur and other fuzzy looks from shots. It works surprisingly well on photos in good lighting that don't exhibit extreme issues, but that could look better if people were actually in focus. While Google hasn't confirmed it, we would expect this feature to make it to older phones at some point, too, though.

Should you upgrade?

Let's be real — as long as you're not affected by terrible connectivity problems, there is probably no good reason to upgrade to the Pixel 7 when you just got a Pixel 6 last year. However, if you have the chance to get a particularly good trade-in deal, and you would like a phone that is slightly more pocketable and fits better in the hand than the Pixel 6, then the Pixel 7 is worth serious consideration.

The Pixel 7 might also be a good upgrade if you suffer from bad connectivity. Though, to be safe, you might want to switch to another manufacturer's product. The question is whether you should buy a new budget phone or an old flagship phone. Maybe a new budget phone like the Pixel 7a will give you better reception and improved performance compared to the Pixel 6.

If you already have the Pixel 6, and it isn't giving you any problems, then it is still a fantastic device. Its Tensor G1 chipset, overall performance, and camera are still top-notch. It may not be the device to get if purchasing new, but definitely worth holding onto if you already own it.